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The work aims to analyse an ejector refrigeration system powered with solar energy through serially connected collectors to lower greenhouse gases. The collectors chosen for the work are Scheffler and parabolic collectors with an area of 2.5 m2 and 6 m2, respectively. The steam generated by the collectors is stored temporarily in a 15-l storage tank. The thermic fluid transfers heat between the steam storage tank and refrigerant, and thus the generator temperature increases. This design was intended as an alternate for a traditional 3.5 kW room air conditioner with substantially lower energy consumption. This modified system consumed lesser energy input of about 20–30% than conventional air conditioners. Further, for the same specification, the ejector system has consumed less power of about 2.475 kW than the traditional refrigeration system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work examines the effect of ultrasound irradiation (UI) on biodiesel properties and transesterification parameters. Methanol content, reaction time, reaction temperature, and catalyst concentration are varied, and the optimum condition for maximum possible yield was held constant for both processes. Biodiesel obtained from non-edible oils is the most promising alternative fuel for conventional diesel fuel. In this study, sterculia foetida seed oil was used for biodiesel production. Sterculia foetida oil was transesterified to lower its FFA using UI and compared with the conventional process. Both heating processes were optimized to yield a maximum of 94.3% at a six molar ratio, 50 °C, (water temp), 1% wt of catalyst (KOH), and 75 min reaction time. Transesterification by UI reduced the total reaction time to 4 min compared to 75 min at the conventional process. Further UI influenced the properties of biodiesel (SOBD) from SO. UI lowered viscosity by 7.3% and density by 5.5% and facilitated using oxygen content of SOBD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the work is to analyse and to improve the efficiency of solar-powered ejector refrigeration system integrated with flat-plate collector and Scheffler concentrator. The Scheffler concentrator of 2.7 m2 and flat-plate collector of 5 m2 collecting area are coupled with the storage tank of 15 l capacity. The developed system was designed for a potential replacement of conventional 1-ton room air conditioner with much reduced electrical energy consumption. The system was built based on two key subsystems namely 'Scheffler concentrator-based vapour system' and 'ejector-based cooling system'. The pilot effort showed promising results with the probability of energy-saving potential as near 70 to 80% over conventional air conditioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work analyses the performance and emission characteristics of biofuelled compression ignition (C.I) engine with the implementation of an antioxidant. Using the transesterification process with sodium hydroxide as a catalyst, the beef tallow methyl ester (BTME) was obtained from the beef tallow oil. Poor physical properties of biodiesel (beef tallow oil (BTO)) namely high viscosity and density cause atomization problems leading to higher smoke, hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions. The purpose of this work is to enhance the performance aspects, to limit smoke emissions from BTO operation and to examine the possibility of direct use of neat BTO in CI engine. This research paves a way of investing the impact of binary blends of BHA and BTO on the research engine. The experiments were conducted on a single-cylinder four-stroke C.I engine using the following fuel compositions: 20% of BTME mixed with 80% diesel (B20), 1000 ppm mono-phenolic antioxidant (butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA)) mixed with the blends of B20 (B20 + BHA), and 100% diesel. Based on the experimental results, it was found that the brake thermal efficiency (BTE) increases by 1.8% and the brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) decreases by 2.5% for the fuel blend B20 + BHA when compared with that for B20 fuel blend. Compared with the B20 blend, the blend B20 + BHA emits 12.2% lesser nitrogen oxide due to breaking chain reactions, scavenging the initiating radicals and reducing the concentration of reactive radicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the impact of the oxygenated additives namely DTBP (Di-Tetra-Butyl-Phenol) and 1-Pentadecanol (1-DEC) on emissions, combustion and performance patterns of Karanja biodiesel/diesel blends. Two additives were selected as ignition improver owing to their improved physicochemical properties. The additives were mixed at 10% volume with the equal blends of diesel and biodiesel. Experimental results revealed that by adding additives and biodiesel to diesel found no phase separation. HRR and peak pressure were highest for diesel and least for KBD/D blends. However, blending the additives enhanced its HRR and peak pressure. Addition of additives lowered the harmful emissions significantly with a slight increase in NO emissions to the KBD/D blends. In addition, a noteworthy increase in performance aspects was observed for KBD/D blends by adding DTBP and 1-Pentadecanol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the market wastes were treated and made as fine briquettes by using a portable rotary dryer. For the experimental purpose, a portable rotary dryer was designed and developed to determine the drying conditions of market waste. A U-type electric air heater of 1000 W were installed in the heating unit along with solar parabolic dish collector. The input parameters for the experiments are drying temperature (120 °C), rotation of dryer (3 rpm), air velocity (5 m/s), initial residue temperature (30 °C) and residue bulk density (200–250 kg/m3). Mixed market wastes are in the proportions such as: Briquette 1: watermelon lund 40% + drumstick pods 10% + beans pods 30% + drumstick peels 20%, briquette 2: watermelon lund 30% + drumstick pods 30% + beans pods 20% + drumstick peels 20%. The final product resulted in fiber form, which can be compacted to an even size of fuel briquettes which can be directly used for commercial and domestic heating. The performance of rotary dryer was analyzed based on inner rotary drum depth position (z = 0 m, z = 0.25 m, z = 0.5 m) and drying time (up to 150 min). The performance parameters like variation in moisture ratio, drying temperature, dry air humidity and air temperature were investigated in the present study. Residence time required for drying the mixed market waste up to milling moisture content (< 20%) in the developed dryer takes 150 min, while the sun drying takes 12–14 h generally. Calorific value of the fuel briquettes produced in the study is determined as 16.2–17.8 MJ/kg. The developed rotary air dryer provides a promising alternative to landfilling because of its low cost of construction, easy operation, green energy utilization and portability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work examines the effect of butanol as an oxygenated additive to lower carbon monoxide, smoke, nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbon emissions and to improve the performance aspects of Calophyllum inophyllum (Punnai) biodiesel. Single-cylinder, oil-cooled compression ignition engines are employed in this work. Neat Punnai biodiesel (P100) is blended with butanol at 10% and 20% by volume and labelled as B10P90 and B20P80, respectively. Methanol and alkaline catalyst (KOH) were used for the transesterification process for biodiesel production. The transesterification technique yielded 88% biodiesel from raw Punnai oil. Engine tests resulted in lower CO, smoke, NOx and HC emissions when fuelled with both butanol blends when compared to P100. In addition, BSFC (brake-specific fuel consumption) reduced and BTE (brake thermal efficiency) increased with the inclusion of butanol blends (B10 and B20) to neat Punnai biodiesel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work is aimed to analyze the performance and emission characteristics of mahua biodiesel-fueled diesel engine with copper oxide nanoparticle at various particle sizes (10 and 20 nm) and the results compared with conventional diesel fuel (BD). Experiments were conducted in a four-stroke, single-cylinder, constant speed, and naturally aspirated research diesel engine with an eddy current dynamometer. Conventional transesterification process is carried out to convert the raw mahua oil into mahua oil biodiesel (BD100). Copper oxide (CuO) was chosen as a nanoparticle; the mass fraction of 100 ppm and the particle sizes of 10 and 20 nm were blended with mahua oil methyl ester using an ultrasonicator, and the physicochemical properties were measured. The physicochemical properties of BD100 and nanoparticle-included BD100 are at par with EN14214 limits. Brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC) of BD100 is higher than that of diesel, and brake thermal efficiency (BTE) is lower than that of diesel (D100). The inclusion of 10-nm particle size of CuO nanoparticle in BD100 improves the BSFC and BTE by 1.3 and 0.7%, respectively, when compared with BD100. The CuO nanoparticle inclusion at 20-nm nanoparticle in biodiesel further improves the performance parameters than those at 10-nm nanoparticle. Further, the BD100 promotes a lower level of smoke emissions, carbon monoxide (CO), and hydrocarbon (HC) and with a prominent increase in oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions. The inclusion of 10-nm particle size of CuO nanoparticle in BD100 reduces the NOx, HC, CO, and smoke emission by 3.9, 5.6, 4.9, and 2.8%, respectively, at peak load condition when compared with BD100. The addition of CuO nanoparticle at 20-nm nanoparticle in biodiesel further reduces the NOx, HC, CO, and smoke emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current work focuses on the experimental investigation to analyze the combustion and emission characteristics of a direct injection diesel engine fueled with neat biodiesel (BD100) and different proportions of cyclohexanol blends as a fuel additive in various volume fractions. Cyclohexanol is dispersed into a neat biodiesel in a volume fraction of 10, 20, and 30 vol%. The biodiesel is produced from neem oil by the conventional transesterification process. The experimental results revealed that with the increased cyclohexanol fraction, the combustion was found smooth. The addition of cyclohexanol has a positive influence on various physical and chemical properties of neat biodiesel. The in-cylinder pressure is comparatively low for diesel followed by cyclohexanol and biodiesel blends when compared with neat biodiesel. This is due to shorter ignition delay period. The heat-release rate of neat biodiesel is the highest among all fuels. The overall HC emission of BD70COH30 is 12.19% lower than BD100 and 16.34% lower than diesel. The overall CO2 emission of BD70COH30 is 13.91% higher than BD100 and 19.5% higher than diesel. The overall NOx emission of BD70COH30 is 5.31% lower than BD100 at all load engine operations. The presence of 10, 20, and 30% of cyclohexanol in biodiesel decreased smoke emissions as compared with neat biodiesel and diesel. The overall smoke emission of BD70COH30 is 19.23% lower than BD100 and 25.51% lower than diesel. The overall CO emission of cyclohexanol blended with biodiesel by 30 vol% (BD70COH30) is 17% lower than neat biodiesel and 21.8% lower than diesel. Based on the outcome of this study, neem oil biodiesel and cyclohexanol blends can be employed as a potential alternative fuel for existing unmodified diesel engines owing to its lesser emission characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This manuscript presents the impact of addition of antioxidant additives to rice bran biodiesel blend on the performance and emission characteristics of compression ignition (C.I) engine. Rice bran methyl ester (RBME) was produced from rice bran oil by transesterification using sodium hydroxide as catalyst. An experimental investigation was conducted on a single-cylinder four-stroke C.I engine to analyze the performance and emission characteristics of rice bran methyl ester (RBME) blended with diesel at 20% by volume (B20) with and without addition of 1000 ppm of two monophenolic antioxidant additives, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). The results showed that the BHA- and BHT-treated B20 blend decreased the brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) by 2.1 and 1.2% and increased the brake thermal efficiency (BTE) by 1.04 and 0.5% compared to B20. The BHA- and BHT-treated B20 blend produced mean reductions in NOx emission of 12.2 and 9.6%, respectively, compared to B20. The carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbon (HC) emissions of BHA- and BHT-treated B20 were increased by 14.8-16.6% and 10.6-11.2%, respectively, compared to B20. However the emission levels were lower than those of diesel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiesels from the mustard oil promise to be an alternative to the conventional diesel fuel due to their similarity in properties. Higher alcohols are added to neat Mustard oil biodiesel (M100) to vary the properties of biodiesel for improving its combustion, emission and performance characteristics. N-Octanol has the ability to act as an oxygen buffer during combustion which contributes to the catalytic effect and accelerates the combustion process. N-Octanol is dispersed to neat Mustard oil biodiesel in the form of emulsions at different dosage levels of 10, 20 and 30% by volume. Three emulsion fuels prepared for engine testing constitutes of 90% of biodiesel and 10% of n-Octanol (M90O10), 80% of biodiesel and 20% of n-Octanol (M80O20) and 70% of biodiesel and 30% of n-Octanol (M70O30) by volume respectively. AVL 5402 diesel engine is made to run on these fuels to study the effect of n-Octanol on combustion, emission and performance characteristics of the mustard oil biodiesel. Experimental results show that addition of n-octanol has a positive effect on performance, combustion and emission characteristics owing to its inbuilt oxygen content. N-octanol was found to be the better oxidizing catalyst as it was more effective in reducing HC and CO emissions. A significant reduction in NOx emission was found when fuelled with emulsion techniques. The blending of n-octanol to neat Mustard oil biodiesel reduces the energy and fuel consumption and a marginal increase in brake thermal efficiency. Further, n-octanol also reduces the ignition delay and aids the combustion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effect of doping hexanol into biodiesel which is from neat cashew nut shell biodiesel oil on the emissions and the performance characteristics was studied in a constant speed diesel engine. The main purpose of this work is to reduce various emissions and also to improve the performance of the diesel engine when fueled with blends of hexanol and neat cashew nut shell biodiesel. Cashew nut shell oil is not edible, and hence it can be used as a viable alternative to diesel. Cashew nut shell biodiesel is prepared by conventional transesterification. Hexanol with 99.2% purity was employed as an oxygenated additive. Experimental studies were conducted by fueling diesel as a baseline and by fueling hexanol and neat cashew nut shell biodiesel mixture. A fuel comprising 10% (by volume) of hexanol and 90% (by volume) neat cashew nut shell biodiesel was referred to as CNSBD900H100 and fuel comprising 20% (by volume) of hexanol and 80% (by volume) of neat cashew nut shell biodiesel was referred to as CNSBD800H200. This study also investigated the possibility of using pure biofuel in an unmodified naturally aspirated diesel engine. The outcome of this study showed that adding hexanol at 10% and 20% (by volume) to cashew nut shell biodiesel results in a reduction in emissions. In addition, a significant improvement in brake thermal efficiency and reduction in brake-specific fuel consumptions were achieved. Hence, it could be concluded that hexanol could be a viable and promising additive for improving the drawbacks of biodiesel when it was used to fuel an unmodified diesel engine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiesel obtained from mustard seed is found to be a promising alternative for petroleum diesel fuel owing to its similarity in physical and chemical properties. In this work, TiO nano-fluid which acts as an oxygen buffer during combustion was added to mustard oil biodiesel (MOBD) to study its effect on emission characteristics of MOBD. TiO nano-fluid can provide high surface energy during the course of combustion and reduces the limitations of neat biodiesel. A four-stroke, multi-cylinder, water-cooled, diesel engine was used in the experiments and was fueled with diesel, neat MOBD and MOBD with TiO nanoparticles at 100 ppm (MOBDT100), 200 ppm (MOBDT200) and 300 ppm (MOBDT300). Experimental results revealed that the TiO nanoparticles had positive effect on the emission characteristics of MOBD as it acted as an oxidation buffer. MOBDT300 showed a reduction in HC, CO and smoke emissions as compared to pure MOBD. In addition, NO emissions were also reduced by the catalytic activity of the TiO nanoparticles which reduce the peak combustion temperature. Therefore, TiO nano-fluid had a positive effect on reducing the emissions associated with neat biodiesel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work is intended to investigate the emission characteristics of neat cashew nut shell methyl ester (CNSME100) by adding pentanol at two different proportions and compared with the baseline diesel. CNSME100 is prepared by the conventional transesterification process. CNSME100 is chosen due to its non-edible nature. Pentanol is chosen as an additive because of its higher inbuilt oxygen content and surface to volume ratio which reduces the drawbacks of neat CNSME100. Emission characteristics were carried out in single cylinder naturally aspirated CI engine fuelled with neat cashew nut shell methyl ester (CNSME), cashew nut shell methyl ester and pentanol by 10% volume (CNSME90P10), cashew nut shell methyl ester and pentanol by 20% volume (CNSME80P20), and diesel. This work also aims to investigate the feasibility of operating an engine fuelled with neat methyl ester and alcohol blends. Experimental results showed that by blending higher alcohol to neat cashew nut shell methyl ester reduces the emissions significantly. It is also found that the emission from neat methyl ester and pentanol blends is lesser than diesel at all loads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]